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ramblereader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Police brutality
Moderate: Death of parent, Outing, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Confinement
amandaquotidianbooks's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved the intersection between race and magical species in this contemporary urban fantasy. I also enjoyed how the two POV characters were equally important to the story. There was an excellent integration of recent politics into the story, specifically police brutality and BLM.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
Minor: Gore, Death of parent, and Bullying
aseel_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
2022: 5 ⭐
Not t sure why I didn't rate this higher the first time I read it, it's still absolutely brilliant and I have thought about this book all the time since reading it two years ago. It blended social critique, mythos, and family dynamics so well.
2020: 4.25 ⭐
This was everything I never knew I needed. Just the real world/fantasy/mythology intersected with racial issues was *chef's kiss*. I love the sister bond we have and the writing was excellent. Honestly, just wish this was longer
Not t sure why I didn't rate this higher the first time I read it, it's still absolutely brilliant and I have thought about this book all the time since reading it two years ago. It blended social critique, mythos, and family dynamics so well.
2020: 4.25 ⭐
This was everything I never knew I needed. Just the real world/fantasy/mythology intersected with racial issues was *chef's kiss*. I love the sister bond we have and the writing was excellent. Honestly, just wish this was longer
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Racism, Police brutality, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Death of parent
keenanmaree's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was so wonderful. It’s a beautiful exploration of Black female friendship, family, and intersectionality. The characters all feel so real (even the ones who are really mythical beings) and multidimensional, and the story is so gripping that I blew through it faster than I’ve read any other book in a long time, because I just HAD to know what happened next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Racism, Self harm, and Violence
mannab's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was incredible. From the moment I started it, I couldn’t put it down - I found constant excuses to read instead of doing anything else. Some of Tavia and Effie’s issues can get a bit repetitive, but despite that, you’ll want to know who they are and how they’re going to face their challenges. It was particularly incredible the way that Bethany C Morrow intertwined fantasy with reality so beautifully and intricately that I’m not convinced this ISN’T the real Portland.
I also really loved that Black Lives Matter was at the heart of this book and a central theme.
I also really loved that Black Lives Matter was at the heart of this book and a central theme.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Police brutality
maisierosereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Racism, and Police brutality
thereadinghammock's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A story of friendship, sisterhood, a celebration of Black sisterhood, and the unique weirdness of the PNW. Tavia and Effie are nearly inseparable after Tavia's move to Oregon just before high school, and both doing their best to survive the inherent troubles that teenage life brings. Add on top of that, being Black in a mostly white part of the country, and Tavia being a siren, and it's only a matter of time before something stirs up more trouble for the girls.
Enter Effie's drama, with an unexplained skin condition that seems to be getting worse, her seasonal gig as a professional mermaid seeming more and more real, and unexplained blackouts and these girls are in for a double whammy.
I loved the friendship and unquestioned sisterhood between Tavia and Effie. Their support of each other was nearly effortless, and I appreciated Bethany's characterization of their ability to recognize their own biases and traumas in trying to be a supportive sibling. I enjoyed the couple of plot twists (and I was sure-ish of one of them before the big reveal), but there was enough to keep me engaged and wanting to know more throughout the whole book. Not sure if I needed there to be a sequel, and I really don't feel I'm ready to sympathize with Naema as a character in the next book, but I won't say no to reading it. Just not right away perhaps.
Enter Effie's drama, with an unexplained skin condition that seems to be getting worse, her seasonal gig as a professional mermaid seeming more and more real, and unexplained blackouts and these girls are in for a double whammy.
I loved the friendship and unquestioned sisterhood between Tavia and Effie. Their support of each other was nearly effortless, and I appreciated Bethany's characterization of their ability to recognize their own biases and traumas in trying to be a supportive sibling. I enjoyed the couple of plot twists (and I was sure-ish of one of them before the big reveal), but there was enough to keep me engaged and wanting to know more throughout the whole book. Not sure if I needed there to be a sequel, and I really don't feel I'm ready to sympathize with Naema as a character in the next book, but I won't say no to reading it. Just not right away perhaps.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Minor: Police brutality
booksandprosecco's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Confinement and Suicide attempt
sebrittainclark's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
thewildmageslibrary's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I'll admit the first third-ish of this book seemed to drag. However, when it picks up, it was difficult to stop reading! Tavia and Effie have a wonderful sister bond and I loved the way they had each other's backs. The discourse on racism, hate crimes, and what it means to be a Black woman hits. I did NOT see the big reveal coming until right before it happened. I love the ending and thought it was perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide